Ex-MoD Driving Academy Candidate

Friday 11 August 2017

Danny Stranack, a former Rifleman in the British Armed Forces, had his Army career end abruptly after an incident while on tour in Afghanistan. Father of four Danny was on foot patrol, where after jumping over a wall, he unexpectedly detonated an IED, leaving him with serious injuries to his lower leg. Unfortunately, Danny’s wounds were so severe his leg could not be saved. Now with a prosthetic leg, Danny is fighting fit and getting back into the world of work. Pertemps have a dedicated MoD Liaison Team on hand to help ex-military and reservists to find driving work in the civilian world. As someone who has always enjoyed driving, Danny wanted to give a career in the industry a go. He tells us more about his journey to becoming a qualified LGV driver with Pertemps.

“After my leg was amputated I didn’t know what to do with myself. Only in my thirties, it felt like my working life was over. I was in the Army for a total of ten years and it’s all I ever really knew, so thinking about doing anything else was daunting.

I was at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court in Surrey for 18 months after the incident, where injured members of the British Armed Forces are treated. The centre deals with patients with physical disabilities but also with those suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Once rehab was over, I was referred to The Poppy Factory, the country’s leading employment charity for veterans with health conditions or impairments. My case worker, Peter Rhodes, was brilliant. He passed me onto Pertemps as he knew their reputation for working with ex-military is first-class. I was then introduced to Rebecca Thorn, Pertemps’ Forces Liaison Coordinator and Darren Knight, the Forces Liaison Manager.

Straight away I felt at ease talking to them as they both have extensive Army experience. I also knew that the company are officially recognised for their outstanding commitment to the Armed Forces as they have Employer Recognition Gold status from the MoD.

Rebecca and Darren, along with the Pertemps Driver Training team, assisted me in gaining the confidence and competence to drive both LGV Cat C and Cat C+E. I’m now all set to begin my career on the road – I have flexible employment with Freightliner and couldn’t be happier to be trying something new.

Throughout the training and recruitment process, I have been impressed with Pertemps’ can-do attitude. The staff make you feel like nothing is impossible. Even though my leg injury has been an obstacle in the past and knocked my confidence, I now feel like I can do anything I set my mind to thanks to Pertemps.”